Windows 7: Win 7 - Not booting up - Letter J Displayed

In continuation from the following thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...-letter-j.html

Hi! I was trying to make a bootable Windows 7 USB using WinToFlash. The application requested some information and then proceeded to copy data onto the USB drive. Before completion the system restarted and did not boot up - after the enter BIOS setup option, the letter 'J' is flashed on the top left of the black screen. Nothing happens beyond this point.

- I've tried restarting a multiple times but the same result.
- I've tried booting from the DVD drive by making use of the Windows installtion disks but the setup fails of recognize any Windows installation or even the harddisk.

Could you please help? Should I try to intalled a driver so Windows setup can recognize the harddisk?

My configuration is as under-

HP ProBook 4420s
Windows 7 (installed from a DVD)

Thanks!

@sibbil: As suggested I'm trying to restore the MBR.

When I got into diskpart, my harddisk is being displayed as of type RAW and as a single partition. I had originally created 5 partitions on the same.

When I ran the command 'bootsect /nt60 / SYS /mbr' the following messages were dispayed-

C: (\\?\..... <<-- Volume information, omitted here

Could not open the volume root directory:
The parameter is incorrect.

\Device\Harddisk0\DR0
Successfully updated disk bootcode.

Bootcode was updated on atleast one volume.

I'll also try the Bootrec.exe command and post an update. Thanks!

I tried to restore the MBR using the instructions from MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

Now on restarting the system, the letter J is no longer displayed, instead 'Missing Operating System' is being displayed.

Now follow: Startup Repair

By the way, these tutorials are brought to you by various members of the forum, so thanks should go to them...

On running Startup Repair, it attempts to resolve the issue then throws up teh message "Startup Repair cannot repair the computer automatically". The diagnostic information is as under-

ProblemEventName: StartupRepairOffline
ProblemSignature01: 0.0.0.0
ProblemSignature02: 0.0.0.0
ProblemSignature03: unknown
ProblemSignature04: 0
ProblemSignature05: unknown
ProblemSignature06: 1
ProblemSignature07: unknown
OSVersion:6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1

Additional log from Startup Repair:

SystemDisk = \Device\Harddisk0
Windows Directory =
Number of root causes = 1

Tests Performed
Name: Check for updates
Result: Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Tests Performed
Name: System Disk Test
Result:Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Tests Performed
Nameisk failure Diagnosis
Result:Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Tests Performed
Nameisk Metadata Test
Result:Completed Successfully
Error Code: 0x0

Root Case Found: Boot sector for system disk partition is corrupt.
Repair Action: Boot sector repair
Result: Failed
Error Code: 0x490

Did you try it multiple times, as stated in the tutorial?

Yes - tried it thrice. Each time the diagnostic information was identical to what is mentioned above.

Now on booting up, the 'Missing Operating System' message is gone instead the cursor just blinks on a black screen. On hitting any button there is a flash of text which includes the following-

Realtek Controller
PXE-E61:Media Test Failed. Check cable.

Followed by-
Non System disk or disk error

Those last messages you posted are the machine not finding boot media.

Repair Install

Have a look at this excellent tutorial.

Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot